Library Forms Alliances to Benefit Community

January 15, 2010 —
“Partnership” is a recurring theme throughout the library district this month, as all the branches play host to two community projects -- and you're invited to join in.

First, Ozarks Food Harvest and the library district have partnered on Food For Fines Jan. 24-30. That’s when we will credit any user's “overdue” fine balance by 50 cents for each item of non-perishable food they drop off at any library checkout desk. More details are coming next week, but all the collected food will be donated to restock shelves at Ozarks Food Harvest – The Food Bank. More details are coming next week, but you can also learn more at thelibrary.org.

In a second project, the 10 library branches throughout Springfield and Greene County are drop-off sites now through Jan. 31 for the Winter Warm Up blanket and coat drive sponsored by the Rotary Club of Springfield.

The holiday season of giving has come and gone, but many families in our communities still lack even the most basic essentials for keeping warm during these frigid months. And among the growing numbers of homeless are families with young children, all braving the cold on the streets.

The libraries are among 16 drop-off sites for new or clean used blankets, and children’s and adults’ coats, hats, gloves and scarves.

The Rotary Club will redistribute all items through Victory Mission, Salvation Army, the Kitchen Inc. and the Underprivileged Children’s Fund/PTA Clothing Bank.

Finally, as we gear up for another Summer Reading Program for children and teens beginning May 22, area business owners have again agreed to provide free items – food, admission and other incentives – to young readers who achieve levels of reading required for the summer program.

Many children experience a learning loss in the summer when reading is de-emphasized. We’re grateful to area businesses that agree to sponsor these incentives to help make the Summer Reading Program more enticing. It’s a partnership, like all the others, that will benefit us all.

A reminder for library users: All district branches will be closed Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But you can always access the district’s online reading, research and services at thelibrary.org.

For the first time, you can also catch up on breaking library news, author visits or new collections by following us on our new Facebook page, www.facebook.com/thelibrary.org.

Kathleen O’Dell is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.